Two boys drown at Versova beach, search on for bodies

They were playing cricket and one of them went to fetch the ball and was pulled in due to the high tide; his friend went to save the struggling boy and both ended up drowning

Two young boys died after falling prey to the tides at Versova Beach yesterday. The duo has been identified as Ashray Rajan Bhanji (12) and Nayan Manoj Dhakle (13). The local fire brigade and police have launched a search operation for their bodies.

Children of nearby villages and settlements often play at Versova Beach. File Pic for Representaion

The duo were playing cricket near the beach, the only open space in the area for children to play. Both were residents of Shiv Galli in Versova village. Authorities said that the ball might have gone into the water and one of the boys, who went into the water to fetch it, didn’t know how to swim and was pulled in by the strong current of the high tide.

The second boy, seeing his friend struggling to stay above the water, might have gone to save him. But, the tide being strong, both boys were pulled in. Their friends rushed back to their houses and told the elders. The local police and fire brigade were informed of the incident.

Dhakle was a student of Std 7 in St Anthony High School, while Bhanji studied at Vesave Vidya Mandir. A fire officer at the spot told mid-day the bodies were nowhere to be found and said they would probably be washed ashore in the morning. The operation will continue today as well.